But others are doing it for the sheer opportunity it presents. In addition to unlocking a treasure trove of consumer and product data, third-party selling accounts are a way for manufacturers to gain greater control over the customer experience, product pricing, distribution channels and more.

We recently covered the subject of D2C marketplace sales to help manufacturers determine if, when and how to make this transition:

Experimenting with direct-to-consumer sales on marketplaces is a smart strategy for most brands, since you never know when specific wholesale relationships will disappear. Testing the waters through marketing, selling and fulfilling efforts will give you a quick indication of where you might need to invest in your company.

But if you still need convincing, here are nine important stats impacting manufacturers today.

A growing number of consumers want to connect with manufacturing brands

Sales growth is occurring across a wide range of categories — apparel, auto parts, home goods, office supplies, toys, healthcare and many more — and is expected to jump another 14.8% industrywide

What this means for your manufacturing company

The question to ask is: How does your own sales growth compare to that of the industry at large? Is it on pace with your competitors’? Or do you have some catching up to do?

If you’re not on track for similar growth goals, focusing on direct-to-consumer marketplaces as part of your go-to market strategy can be a great way to get ahead.

Looking for more information on selling D2C on marketplaces? Download your free copy of our eBook: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Marketplace Selling. You’ll find best practices and industry insights based on ChannelAdvisor’s experiences with more than 2,800 sellers across 100+ marketplaces.